Reducing apparatus



A. L. BAUSMAN.

REDUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2|. 1917.

1,829,?41. Patented Feb. 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P INVENTOR.

Maw

A TTORNEYS.

WITNESSES A. L. BAUSIVIAN.

REDUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. I917.

1,329,741. I Patented Fb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE YS.

A. L. BAUSMAN.

REDUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1917.

1,329,741. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- IN VEN TOR.

Y A TTORNE YS.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO LINTON BAUSMAN, 0F CHICOPEE,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed May 21,

VBIIUOD is particularly concerned with are those which may be used to best advantage, for example, in the machine disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,085,304, granted August 13,1912. In refining the liquor obtained from the cocoa bean, for

which said machine is designed, or in refining chocolate and the like, special problems present themselves, and it has been found that'ordmary grinding disks do not Work properly. Much thought has been ekpended in designing the best form of reducing disk for the particular purpose of refining the cocoa, chocolate, or the like to the best advantage. Successful disks have been produced, an example'of which is found in my United States Patent No. 1,203,461, granted October 31, 1916. I

Among the problems involved in producing successful refining disks for the stated purpose are in the order of their importance .-+.a disk face which will refine the liquor without burning, to avoid the caking of the liquor on the disk and a resulting burning ofthe caked portions in s ots, to

rovide a disk face which, will re e the iquor fast enough to permit volume and certain production, and to provide a disk face ofirelatively inexpensive construction.

According to one feature of the present invention, a novel form of disk face is provided consisting .of several hundreds of.

pockets substantially covering the face of the disk, .eachz of; Which pockets is much greater in'flengththan in width and which has a substantially vertical longitudinal face and another longitudinal face gradually sloping from the bottom of the pocket to the outer face of the disk. These pockets are preferably arranged each at a small angle to any radius passing thereacross. This arrangement of pockets on the disk face is,

further chara terized by the fact that the Specification of Letters Patent.

REDUCING APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920. 1917. Serial No. 170,059.

ets preferably slopegradually to the tops of the dividing walls at about the same pitch as the longitudinal sloping walls. The disk face is further characterized by a series of spaced feeding grooves extending radially and outwardly from the feed opening at the center of the disk to a point near the periphery of the disk where they slope gradually to the top of the dividing walls mentioned. These feeding grooves in effect constitute a large pocket, like the series of more numerous pockets but they differ in this that they are deeper, open at their inner ends to the feed opening. of the disk, and their perpendicular faces are substantiallyradial to the disk, an arrangement which effects in the preferred embodiment a dipping into the feed grooves 'by the adjacent smaller pockets which are arranged at a slight angle to the radius. According to another feature of the invention, the dividing walls between the ends of adjacent pockets in different series are arranged at an acute angle with respect to the feedgrooves, whereby the ends of successive pockets in each series are locateda slight distance nearer the periphery of the disk than the ends of succeeding pockets considered with respect to the direction of the disks rotation past a fixed point.

According to another feature of the invention, certain pockets adjacent to the feed grooves-open only at their-inner ends into fecti've feeding and discharging means,-

whereby volume production is secured while at the same time the liquor traveling from pocket to pocket as the disks rotate face to face is caused to pass over the longitudinal .slopin circular direction and generally up the end sloping faces .over the dividing walls when traveling outwardly from the pockets of one series to the pockets of the next outer series.

According to another important "feature faces of the pockets in a v of the invention, the form of disk face of the kind and for the purpose described may be effectively made by a casting operation for the form and arrangement of the reduc.-'

ting by milling machines. The advantage of castin over milling machine work is, of

course, 0 vious, but the invention in this aspect resides in the structure of the. disk for the really diflicult operation of refining chocolate; and which structure is effective for such operation and at the same time may be made by casting.

Other features of the invention will appear in the illustrative embodiment of it in the drawings-:- 1

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the arrangcment of disk faces. for operation in the machine of the patent above referred to;

Fig. 2 is a-plan view of the novel disk face (in which only a portion of the disk is shown as finished to save needless labor in the drawing) as the same appears attached to a" rotatable supporting: plate keyed to a suit: able shaft; a portion-of the disk is cut away to show a view of the supporting plate; Fig. 3 is a slide elevation of the rotatable plate showing its shaft; and the disks as attached to the. opposite faces of the plate;

liig. 4 is a plan View of a separable segment of the disk showing on its face the preferred arrangement of pockets and feeding grooves; V r

Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail section on lined-6- of- Flg. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the reducing surfaces in the reverse order as would be necessary when right and left handed disks are used on the same rotatable plate in coiiperation with adjacent face to face disks;

Fig. 8 is across section on line 88 of view of one way to ar-- Fig. 9 is a detail with range the disks for relative. movement respect to their reducing surfaces.

The .form of the reducing surfaces on. each disk make the latter .susceptible to successful casting operations in. the manufacture. This is important and new for a disk of the kind desired for it saves milling machine. operations. .A preferred way to make the disk of this invention is to first cut a master piece for use as a pattern.

- From this pattern by usual methods, eight pieces or 45 segments} likethat shown in Fig. 4 may be cast. These eight pieces may be convenientlv assembled and fastened to a supporting piece or disk 1, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, by headed screws 2. The heads of-the latter are received by suitable recesses 3 and engage threads in tapped holes 4, all to the end that the segments are held to form a complete disk on each face of the supporting plate 1. The recesses 3 for the heads of the screws 2, it will be noted, are formed to prevent marring the reducing face of the disk and so that the purpose of the reducing surfaces of the latter will not be defeated even in spots.

As shown, feeding grooves 5 extend substantially radially from the center of the disk to a point close to but spaced from its periphery and are angularly spaced fifteen degrees apart. Each groove is preferably of the cross section shown in Fig. 8, and the bottom of the groove slopes gradually and radially from its deepest point at the center to the outside face of the disk at its outer end. Of course, these grooves could be formed in other ways and spaceddiflerent distances apart. For example, they might be V-shaped in cross section without defeating the purpose of feeding, but the preferred form is shown. w v

The pockets 6 are shown arranged in separate series of sets of pockets A, B, C, D, and E for the disk surface between successive feed grooves 5. It will be understood for purposes of convenience that a like series of sets of pockets A, B, C, D, and E are arranged for the surface over each segment between adjacent feed grooves 5 in the form of the invention shown aS the preferred embodiment.- Thus, an explanation of one such segment surface will apply logically to all.

This series may be termed the radial series,

the center of the disk around which the feeding space is located.

. The preferable arrangement of the pockets which is considered new as well as other features of the invention can best be understood by the conception of the two series of sets, one radial and the other'circular. The circular series are thoughtof'as the corresponding sets. in successive segments between feed grooves and may be indicated by the series=desig'nation, AA. etc., B-B etc., C'-C etc.. D--D etc., and EE etc.

Each set of pockets might be consideredas a series, but it is preferredto designate all the pockets of one set as A, B, and the like.

-For example, counting from the lower lead lines Fig. 4, toward the feed groove 5 and outwardly, the set A consists of six pockets, set B of six, set C of seven, set Dof nine, and set E of six. This numerical arrangement can, of course, be changed make a large variety of arrangements with the use of the invention as an object. The purpose of specifying rather exactly the sets, the series, and the arrangement and boundary of the pockets is to bring the scheme of the invention into clear relief and not to suggest that the invention resides in the exact arrange- I ment of the form described.

Each pocket is preferably longer than it 1s wlde and 1s made with one surface substantially vertical and the other and end surfacesgradually sloping to the outer face of the disk. This arrangement will lend itself to manufacture by casting, as such pockets as well as the described feed grooves may readily be formed by such manufacture. The disk may be finished by grindingits plane face without spoiling the reducing surfaces. At the same time, the pockets and the arrangement thereof are particularly adapted for their difficult purpose, as will appear.

The pockets of each set are arranged at a small angle to the radius passing through each, and that pocket of the set nearest the center is made longest. The successive pockets of a set counting outwardly are generally shorter. than the preceding pockets, and each is generally located nearer the periphery of the disk or farther away from the central feeding point than the preceding pocket. This arrangement may be departed from to a limited extent, as a close examination of.

to the other but with apurpose ofhaving them functionallycoiiperatel asw'ill appear.

. irable assembly "A rotatable shaft :360 degree=ajssemblypfsegments,as shown 1n 'Figp l, is fastened-in the'ide'scribed man ner to-the right faceof plate Lili d liflike assembly ofsegme'nts, but formed injreverse fash on i dicated in- Figz- 'i, jag-ga d The arrangement of'Iieduei11g faces on the disk has been describedfiithpartiedlar reference to the;segment bel0W feed groove 5' Fig. 4.-- All threefse gmjents shown j1n T g. 4 correspond; f; The complete segment shown in Fig.14 'indicateiOne cast piece of the disk, such a ficiently cast for conveniences, E q of my i 1s mdlcated in It circular supportingfpl A complete piece asi can'j be ef ented-fmachine).

- u 7 ra W JthQmQStdeQ-J would not effectively act onthe liquor ,zto 'eithe'r rub orcut it, the latter being undesirable .inuthe use aimed atQIt will be eyed thereto a to the left face of the plate. Corresponding assembledv disks'are likewise fastened to the inner faces of stationary jacketed castings J held in proper respective positions by boltsan'd springs b, as indicated. This assembly with respect to cooperable disk faces and direction of rotation is best shown in Fig. 9. The right hand disks are R-R. and the left hand ones LL', corresponding in surfaces to those shown in Figs. 4: and 7 ,re'spectively.

The cocoa, chocolate, or other substance of like difficult refining qualities is fed to center space 8 by feed pipes F and-outwardly in feed grooves 5 and pockets contiguous thereto. The spaces between face to face disksare thus loaded with a material amount 0fthe "liquo r.' The late 1 is rotated and the continued feeding of liqflor (preferably under'positiveand measured constant pressure) takes place. The liquor tends to fiow directly to the peripheral outlets 0 between the disks and to the discharge pan P. This direct flow is effectively prevented by the arrangement of pockets according to lnventlon.

The filled pockets and of-one withlike filled pockets A- and G of the-fad j'acent face to face disk cannot readily. dis-E charge. their contents on account of dividing walls 9 and 1 1, and the partition walls .be-.

tween the pockets; butthey must be 'discharged so the contents'by the relative-re;

tation are rubbed over all their slopi1 1g-sur'-' faces (note the direction of rotation nvFigl.

9) from one pocket to anotherboth-iILtlfe,"

circular series AA etc, and in'th series AE. V a

A feature of particular importance in this movement of the liquor is the rubbing (not cutting) action overthe very large, area of all the graduallyisloping surfaces-of the hundreds of pockets in the disks; This extremely largeare'a of suchsurfaces for ,the rubbing action desired is obtained by a ,rela'- tively simple arrangement of; the pockets which is the important and broad feature of my invention. Notioe that if the direction of rotation injFiggQWere reversed, cutting action rather. than rubbing action would result to the greatdetriment of the operadia tion of refining-the cocoa," chocolate, or the ylik'e; Furthermore, in the reverse direction ofijotation, consider the great area of the ly =sloping surfaces of the pockets plain then by the comparison that the great.

area of'efl'e'ctive rubbing surface (utilized by proper direction of rotation) with the simple arrangement of pockets in, associa-.

.tion' with the effective arrangement of the feeding grooves attain new and useful results for the pu pose .ofiiro umeprod ction.

The described angular arrangement of the pockets and the radial and circular series arrangement of the sets of pockets is another feature of particular importance. Such arrangement causes the movement of the liquor by the relative rotation of the disks along a decidedly scroll-like path of many convolutions to the periphery. During this movement, the liquor is squeezed and rubbed over anextremely large area of the efi'ective reducing surfaces of the disks. ln other Words, the liquor has a practically continuous movement in the scroll-like path and is throughout such path efiectively beaten over the large reducing surfaces of the disks. The orderly and logical arrangement of the pockets not only results in effective and improved refining of the liquor but in a better predetermined control of the Volume production. The feeding pressure for liquor may be increased and speed of rotation of the disks increased with good results in my present invention to an extent not possible so far as I am aware in the use of prior disks for the same purpose.

-I- am aware of the two patents to Kihlg-ren No. 1,098,325, and No. 1,098,324, both themselves to those skilled in the art granted May 26, 1914, on structure for re-- ducing cocoa, chocolate, and the like, and I do not wish to be understood as claiming anything shown in-either of said patents'as my nvention.

I have now disclosed in detail the preferred form of my invention, but many other forms of arrangements will readily suggest having for their object the use of the invention in a specific form'difl'ering from the precise one shown. For example, the specific form of the sets of pockets, the radial series of sets,-

"the circular series f sets, may be varied in numberless ways and still embody the invention. I, therefore, desire to have the scope of the invention determined by the fol lowing claims interpreted in the spirit of the disclosure ofone exact form rather than in the letter of the exact form shown. What I claim is Y 1.- A reducing disk for cocoa, chocolate, and the like having on its reducing face a plurality of specially formed pockets arranged in substantially concentric series, the

pockets of each series being generally separated from the pockets of adjacent series by dividing walls, the tops of which are in the same plane asthe outer face of thedisk, each of the pockets being much longer" than it is wide and having one substantially normal longitudinal face and a second, longitudinal. ,face gradually sloping from the bottom of thepocket to the outer face of the disk, and

.a series of spaced feeding grooves extend- 7 ing outwardly fromthe feed'opening' at the center of the disk toward the" periphery of the and sloping gradually toward and wearer terminating in the plane of the top of the dividing walls, the longitudinal axis of each pocket arranged at a small angle to said feeding grooves. 4

2. A reducing disk for cocoa, chocolate, and the like having on its reducing face a plurality of specially formed pockets ar ranged in substantially concentric series, the pockets of each series being generally separated from the pockets of adjacent series by dividing walls, the tops of which are in the same plane as the outer face of the disk, each of the pockets being much longer than it is wide and having one substantially nor mal longitudinal face and a second longitudinal face gradually sloping from the bottom of the pocket to the outer face of the disk, and a series of spaced feeding grooves formed generally like the pockets but deeper 1 than the latter, with their inner ends open. to the central feed opening of the disk and with theirperpendicular faces arranged at longer than it is wide and havingone substantially normal longitudinal face and a second longitudinal face gradually sloping from the bottom of the pocket to the outer face of the disk, and a series of spaced feedmg grooves extending-outwardly from the feed opening at the center of the disk to a point near the periphery. of the latter where I they slope gradually to the top of the dividing walls, the. longitudinal axis of each pocket arranged at asmall angle to said feeding grooves, the dividing Walls between the ends of ad acent pockets in difi'erent 1 series being arranged at an'acute angle with respect to the feed grooves, whereby the ends of successive-pockets in each seriesafre located a slight distance nearer the periphery of the disk than the ends of succeeding pockets considered with respect to the direction of the disks rotation past a fixed point. 4. A reducing disk for cdcoa, chocolate, and the like havingon its reducing face'a plurality ofv specially formed pockets arranged in substantially concentric s'er1es, the

pockets of each series being generallysepa rated from the pockets ofadjacent series by dividing walls, the tops of which are in the same plane as the outerface of the .disk, each of the pockets being much longerthan it is wide and having one substantially nor mal longitudinal face and a second longitudinal face gradually sloping from the bot-- tom of the pocket to the outer face of the disk, and a series of spaced feeding grooves extending outwardly from the feed opening at the center of the disk toward the periphery of the latter and sloping gradually toward and terminating in the plane of the top of the dividing walls, the longitudinal axis of each pocket arranged at a small angle to said feeding grooves, certain pock ets adjacent the feeding grooves opening only at their inner ends into the feed grooves and pockets adjacent the periphery opening at their outer ends to discharge their contents at the periphery.

5. A reducing disk for cocoa, chocolate, and the like, consisting in a disk face divided into segments by feed grooves extending from the feed opening at the center of the disk toward its periphery, the segments substantially covered by elongated pockets slanted backwardly and outwardly with respect to the feed groove for a given segment and the direction of planned rotation, such pockets having interior facesarranged to rise gradually from the bottom thereof to the outer face of the disk in a direction generally opposite to the described direction.

6. A reducing disk for cocoa, chocolate and the like, consisting in a disk face divided into segments by feed grooves extending from the feed opening at the center of the disk toward its periphery, each designed to feed a particular segment, each of such segments substantiall covered by elongated pockets slanted bac 'wardly and outwardly with respect to the feed groove for a given segment and the direction of planned rotation, dividing walls to mark off such pockets into radial series of sets, such dividing walls arranged in separate series, each successive one of which is arranged nearer the periphery of the disk and the walls of each series arranged at an acute angle with respect to the feeding groove of its segment.

7. Apparatus for reducing cocoa, chocolate, and the like, consisting in two opposed reducing disks, one rotatable with respect to the other, each of which comprises a reducing face substantially covered with elongated pockets havingreducing surfaces gradually slanting from the bottoms of the pockets tothe outer surface of the disk face in a. general direction opposite to the direction of relative movement between the opposed disks, and feed grooves extending from the center of the disk toward its periphery and dividing the disk face into generally radial series of pockets, the latter for each series being slanted backwardly and outwardly with respect to its feed groove so that each successive pocket in a series is arranged nearer the periphery of the disk. I

8. Apparatus for reducing cocoa, chocolate, and-the like, consisting of two concen tric spaced disks, a relatively rotatable plate having on opposite faces thereof two disk faces arranged respectively in opposed relation to the spaced disk faces, all of such disk faces being substantially covered with elongated pockets having reducing surfaces gradually slanting from the bottoms of the pockets to the outer surface of their disk face in a general direction opposite to the direction of relative movement between opposed disk faces, and feed grooves extending from the center of the disk toward its periphery and dividing the disk face into generally radial series of pockets, the latter for each series being slanted backwardly and outwardly with respect to its feed groove so that each successive pocket in a of series is arranged nearer the periphery the disk.

ALONZO LINTON BAUSMAN. 

